Special report: Why Vietnam is winning over foreign retirees

The Southeast Asian country was recently included in Forbes' list of the Best Places To Retire Abroad in 2026, with the publication noting that the cost of living is about one-quarter that of the U.S., while also spotlighting Vietnam's beaches and vibrant culture "with plenty to do and eat."

Forbes also pointed to Vietnam's low rate of serious crime and the availability of English in major cities.

No surprise

For Jim Reischl, a 78-year-old American veteran, Forbes' recognizing Vietnam as one of the most attractive retirement destinations for Americans seems to come as no surprise.

Having traded the harsh winters of Minnesota for the misty mountains of Da Lat, Reischl's journey is a testament to why more foreigners are choosing to call Vietnam home.

Reischl's path to Da Lat – a mountain retreat in Lam Dong Province, known for its cool climate, pine forests, and relaxed pace of life – was paved by a friend whose wife is Vietnamese.

During a visit to see them in 2018, he was introduced to Lan, his current wife.

Though he had been visiting Vietnam frequently since 2012, his visits became longer each year as his connection to the country deepened.

The turning point came in 2021 when Reischl made a life-altering decision.

He sold his house in Minnesota and moved to Vietnam, deciding he no longer wanted to deal with the cold or the burden of maintaining a property from afar.

"There was a time when I was living in Minnesota during the winter where I'd look out the window, and it's cold out, which means I had to start my car to get it warm before I went anywhere. My brain said, 'I don't want to do this anymore'," he recalled.

Today, Reischl lives with Lan in a house nestled in the mountains, roughly 17 kilometers south of Da Lat's center.

The area is famous for its vast pine forests, which remind him of northern Minnesota.

In Vietnam, he finds the weather comfortable and the cost of living significantly more manageable.

Most importantly, it is the people that have made Jim Reischl's stay in Vietnam truly fulfilling.

He speaks warmly of the friendliness he encounters, noting that even those who fought on the "opposite side" during the war, including his own brother-in-law, have welcomed him with open arms and "hugs and kisses on the cheek."

For many retirees, healthcare is a primary concern. Reischl manages this with a hybrid approach.

Once a year, he returns to the U.S. for two weeks to conduct medical check-ups and collect free medications provided to him as a veteran.

For serious medical issues within Vietnam, he chooses an international hospital in Ho Chi Minh City where his U.S. health insurance actually reimburses around half of the costs for his treatments there, making high-quality private care affordable.

Life is more interesting here

A.G., a New Yorker who was born in the 1950s and previously worked in healthcare, has lived in Vietnam for more than three years and hopes to make the country her permanent home.

After spending a few months in Ho Chi Minh City, she moved to Da Lat.

"I was drawn to Da Lat by the weather, the size and character of the city, the laid-back lifestyle and the friendly people," she told Tuoi Tre News.

A.G. said Da Lat offers many of the qualities she considers important for retirement, mentioning good restaurants, music, and convenient access to different parts of the country.

Its cooler climate is also a major attraction, with temperatures generally ranging from about 15 to 26 degrees Celsius throughout the year, she added.

A.G. noted that there are many reasons why people want to live in Vietnam.

"As a single, older woman, I feel that I am very safe in Vietnam, the people are friendly, the country is beautiful, and I feel at home," she explained.

Referring to the factors Forbes deemed as making Vietnam attractive to American retirees, A.G. said, "All of those factors matter."

"You get all those pluses in one place. I can live comfortably here," she said.

"I have been able to take wonderful motorbike tours around the country, visit caves, and beaches, and live both like a tourist and a local.

"The cost of living is very high in the States. 

"My life wouldn't be near as interesting as it is here."

The people that matter

Meanwhile, 63-year-old British Baz Mattaz told Tuoi Tre News that he has chosen Vietnam "primarily for the warmth and friendliness of its people."

"There is a genuine sense of mutual respect that makes me feel very welcomed here," Mattaz said.

"While a low cost of living is essential when you're no longer earning an income, it isn't my only criterion." 

"I am comfortably off by Western standards, so I could afford to live in many places."

Another major advantage, Mattaz has found first-hand, is the surprisingly high quality of healthcare at remarkably affordable costs.

In April, Mattaz made headlines with his story of undergoing emergency treatment for an enlarged prostate in Da Nang, an experience that gave him first-hand insight into the quality and affordability of healthcare in Vietnam.

At an international hospital, he received prompt treatment without having to endure lengthy waiting lists.

The entire treatment cost around VND60 million (US$2,278), including five days in the hospital, several follow-up appointments and medication.

For Mattaz, this experience is part of what makes Vietnam increasingly attractive to foreigners as a place to spend their retirement years: a balance of affordability and modern infrastructure.

"While neighboring countries like Cambodia or Laos might be cheaper, they lack Vietnam's modern accommodation options and, most importantly, its high standard of medical care and reliable hospital systems," he said.

"On the other hand, Thailand offers a higher level of development, but at a slightly higher cost of living.

"The Philippines has great long-term residency solutions and widespread English language proficiency but not as developed infrastructure."

Bill Harany, an 81-year-old Canadian who has spent years living in Vietnam, shares a similar view of the country's people.

He first came to Vietnam in 2011 at the age of 68 and taught English at a community college in Tra Vinh, part of Vinh Long Province now.

"The staff and teachers were very welcoming and the students were great. The parents of students I taught were incredibly appreciative and showered me with generosity," Harany recalled.

It was the people, more than anything else, who made him fall in love with Vietnam, he insisted.

On one occasion, a teaching assistant invited him to her family farm for a death commemoration.

The experience gave Harany an opportunity to see Vietnamese family and social life from the inside, and Vietnam's cultural differences from Canada fascinated him.

"I especially appreciated the patience that friends and colleagues showed me in spite of my many less than sensitive and appropriate comments and actions," he said. "In a word, people were kind and patient with me."

After leaving Vietnam in March 2020, he was unable to return for several years due first to the COVID-19 border closures and later to his health problems.

Now back in Vietnam and staying in Vinh Long, Harany says he still wants to spend his later years pursuing new adventures in the country.

However, healthcare is one of the challenges he faces when considering retirement abroad. At his age, medical insurance is prohibitively expensive, whereas healthcare is free in Canada, Harany said.

Retirees: Vietnam's untapped opportunity

A.G. believes Vietnam could benefit from welcoming foreigners who want to retire in the country, saying retirees are more stable in their lives, plus they have money to spend without taking jobs away.

She suggested that introducing a retirement visa would be a positive change for Vietnam.

"With the 90-day visa, people have to leave the country and spend their money elsewhere. That is the one thing that would make a huge difference," she said.

"The few hundred dollars that a person needs for visas to other countries, lodging, airfares, and transportation would allow retirees to spend that money here, and see more of this beautiful country."

Meanwhile, Mattaz said retirees typically have a lifetime of accumulated wealth and are looking for a peaceful place to spend it in.

"Given that Vietnam is already an established destination for medical tourism, long-term retirees represent a natural extension of this market as low-maintenance, high-value guests," he said.

Retirees can also bring steady and high-value spending to local economies while placing relatively little pressure on public infrastructure.

They are generally less likely to cause public disturbances, commit crimes, or breach the peace, while many also take part in volunteer activities and contribute their skills and experience to local communities.

According to him, the main drawback is the lack of residency security.

Constantly relying on unpredictable 90-day tourist visas prevents those who want to retire in Vietnam from putting down real roots, building a permanent life, or confidently investing in a home, vehicles, or major consumer goods.

"Unlike Thailand or the Philippines, which offer long-term retirement pathways, Vietnam leaves you feeling like a perpetual visitor, which is deeply unsettling for an older person," he explained.